Package



w. H. BODLE Dec. 4, 1945.

PACKAGE Filed Dec. l2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. H. BODLE l PACKAGE Dec. 4, 1945. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l2, 1941 Milf Patented Dec. 4, 1945 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEFicE K p PACKAGE i Walter H.'Bod1e, Birmingham, Mich.

Application December 12, 1941, Serial No. 422,630

l (C1. 20s-41.2)

10 Claims.

This invention relates to the packaging of merchandise items and while specifically disclosed for the packaging of cigarettes it is understood that the invention is of general application to `other items.

. One object of the inventon is to provide a multiple package for merchandise items in which the items have individual coverings and are joined together in package form with the items indi- :vidually removable for use without disturbing `the `items having provisions for joining into multiple packages and facilities for individual removal and opening of the items.

Another object of the invention is to provide a` multiple package for merchandise items in which consumption of individual items is effected without opening of the coverings of unused items which remain until consumed. i

i Other objects and features of the invention will beireadilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the following specication and appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a continuous wrapping strip t be used in carrying out the invention.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are views of successive steps in the wrapping of an individual item.

. Figure 6 is a view showing the building up of a multiple package.

Figure 7 is a view of a completed package. Figures 8, 9; l0, 1l; 12, 13; 14, 15; and 16 show successively the removal of an item for consumption.

` In the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the application of the invention to the packaging of cigarettes has` been specifically illustrated. While the invention is `particularly adapted to the packaging of cigapings in a continuous strip. The dotted lines 3 `tabs Al as at 1.

indicate the positions to be taken by the endsof the cigarettes and form an area Within which printing or marking of the w-apping may be effectivey placed. At opposite ends of the wrappings are left the securing tabs 4, as shown, cut at 5 `to the lines 3. Large tabs B are provided for thejoining of individual items.

The steps in the wrapping of an individual cigarette or other item ae shown in Figures 2 through 5. In Figure 2 the wrapping hasbeen rolled a-ound the cigarette in the form of an encaslng tube with the tab 6 extending thereiro-m. In Figure 3 the ends of the wrapping beyond the lines 3 are formed, iirst opposite the The next step in Figure 4. is to` fold inwardly the sides of the end material and in Figure 5 the tabs ll are folded over the ends of the tube and securedin position by an adhesive at the points 8.

' In Figure 6 the individual casings have been Jdined together in the forming of a multiple package. This is eiTected by the attachment of each tab 6 to the main body of the adjacent tube by an adhesive as at the points 9 and the joining by adhesive of the tubes themselves at Il.

In Figure 7 has been illustrated a complete package of twenty cigarettes in two layers of ten each joined asin Figure 6 and provided with an outer package wrapping as at l2 which may take any desired form. When the packageis to be opened, the outer cover l2 may be removed and lthe package split into two convenient, flat and easily carried multiple packages of ten each.

The manner in which individual cigarettes are removed from a multiple package is illustrated in `Figures 8 through 16.

In Figures' and 9 the right hand cigarette is starting to be unrolled.. This initiates a tear of the encasing tube at the points I3 where the tab 6 joins the main body portion of the Wrapping. In Figures 10, 11 and 12, 13 the tube is being progressively unrolled, the tearing at the tab Many obvious advantages of packaging accordl ing to the presentinvention will be readily apparent, a few of which will be mentioned. The

individual items remain fresh and uncontaminated while the items are being consumed, they remain sanitary, readily show the number of items remaining, do not lose or abso-rb moisture, absorb odors nor spill crumbs. In a sense they form their own humidor while retaining easy dis.- pensability for the consumer.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising a plurality of items provided with individual coverings, means joining said items together in side by side relation into a flat group which is substantially self sustaining, means for removing an end item from the group without disturbing the others therein, and means whereby the removal of an item with a rotating motion effects unrolling of at least the main body portion of its covering therefrom.

2. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising individual coverings for the items, said coverings being in the form of tubes sealed at their opposite ends and having integral side tabs along at least a portion of their bodies, means joining said coverings together into a. substantially self sustaining group including means joining the side tab on each tube to the body portion of the next adjacent tube.

3. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising individual coverings for the items, said coverings being in the form of tubes sealed at their opposite ends and having integral side tabs along at least a portion of their bodies,

means joining said coverings together into a substantially self sustaining group including means joining the side tab on each tube to the body portion of the next adjacent tube and means joining said tubes directly to each other.

4. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising individual coverings for the items, said coverings being in the form of tubes sealed at their opposite ends and having integral side tabs along at least a portion of their bodies, means joining said coverings together into a substantially self-sustaining group including means joining the side tab on each tube to the body portion of the next adjacent tube and means joining said tubes directly toy each other, and means whereby removal of an item from the group with a rotating motion unrolls at least a portion of the individual covering from the item.

5. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising individual `coverings for the items, said coverings being in the form of tubes sealed at their opposite ends and having integral side tabs along at least a portion of their bodies, means joining said coverings together into a substantially self-sustaining group including means joining the side tab on each tube to the body portion of the next adjacent tube and means joining said tubes directly to each other, and

rifvieans inc-luding said side tabs and coverings whereby removal of an item from the group with 'a rotating motion unrolls at least a portion of the materiau tearing at unes determined by the jurie-Y tion of the side tab to the tube and leaving the removed item ready for consumption except for readily removable end caps of the covering material.

6. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising a plurality of individual packages for individual items, each individual package co-mprising a main body portion encasing said item and including portions integral with said main body portion formed to provide end surfaces for the casing and integral tabs at the ends of the cas- -ing folded over said end surfaces to complete the same, said end tabs being adhesively joined to the main body portion and a side tab integral with said main body portion and extending therefrom, the individual packages being disposed in side by side relation with the side tab on each adhesively connected to the main body portion of an adjacent individual package to form a connected, multiple package.

7. Amultiple package for merchandise items comprising a plurality of individual casings enclosing said items, said casings being disposed in side by side relation and an integral portion extending sidewise from each casing and adhesively joined to the adjacent casing, said integral portion adhering to the package when its item is removed and means whereby the act of removing the item tears at least a. part of the casing from about the item.

8. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising individual rolled casings for the individual items having |closed end portions sealing theitems, said casings being disposed in side by side relation to form a flat package, unrolled por-A side relation to form a at package, unrolled` portions on each leasing adhesively joined to the adjacent casing to form a substantially selfsustaining package, and means whereby each item may be removed either as a unit in its casing by breaking the adhesion of its unrolled portion to the adjacent casing or by an unrolling motion which removes at least a portion of the main .casing from about the item.

10. A multiple package for merchandise items comprising individual rolled casings for the individual items having closed end portions sealing the items, said casings being disposedin side by side relation, an integral side tab on `each casing adhesively joined to the adjacent casing, and means whereby removal of each item with an .unrolling motion without breaking the tab from the package causes a continuous strip to be torn from the casing and leaves about the item Separated closed tubes readily slid endwisefrom the item. i

WALI'ER H. BODLE 

